Debora Almeida

Dr Debora Almeida

  • Senior Lecturer in Operating Department Practice
  • Bournemouth Gateway Building BG506, St Pauls Lane, Bournemouth, BH8 8GP
UN SDGs:
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Biography

Dr Debora Almeida joined Bournemouth University in 2017 as a Lecturer in Operating Department Practice (ODP) following a clinical, academic and managerial career in general hospitals, private clinics, surgical units and higher education in the South of Brazil.

Having trained and performed as a professional ballerina for some years, Debbie developed an interest in the human body and its abilities and limits. This led her to another academic qualification as a surgical technologist and subsequent position as a clinical skills instructor and lecturer for the surgical technology course.

After spending most of her professional life in operating theatres and academic environment, Debbie moved to England and qualified as and ODP, practicing in both private and public sectors before re-embarking on the academic life.

Nowadays, Debbie splits her time between clinical practice working as an ODP; academic life sharing knowledge with ODP students and other healthcare students; and early career researcher after successfully completing her PhD...

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Research

Current research based on the investigation of quality of infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and how long it takes for the skills to decay and become ineffective.

The aim of this research is to develop an optimal CPR re-training schedule for hospitals and healthcare providers.

Consistency of human performance during infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (iCPR) – experimental study to investigate how consistent a person is performing iCPR. This is an important measure to identify changes in performance over a set time frame as skill decay/improvement or just inconsistent performance.

Debbie's research initially focused on retraining strategies to maximise retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills, with attention to the consistency of human performance, hand dominance and competency status. These insights are applicable to other clinical skills, including those relevant to perioperative practice.

Currently, as part of her postdoctoral research, Debbie is broadening her interests to encompass sustainability in healthcare and human factors in perioperative practice. To enhance her research career, Debbie is actively collaborating with international colleagues, fostering networking opportunities to produce high-quality research that advances clinical practice in these areas.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Good health and well-being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

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Quality education

"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"

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Climate action

"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts"

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Journal Articles

Chapters

  • Almeida, D. and Tarrant, J., 2022. Principles of Anaesthetics. Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice. Harrogate: Association for Perioperative Practice.

Conferences

  • Almeida, D., Williams, J., Clark, C. and Jones, M., 2020. Is there a difference between dominant and non-dominant hand performance during simulated infant CPR? In: Congress of the European Resuscitation Council 22-24 October 2020 Manchester (virtual due to CoVID-19).
  • Almeida, D., Tobase, L., Facholi Polastri, T., Ciqueto Peres, H.H. and Timerman, S., 2020. THE USE OF AUTOMATED REAL-TIME FEEDBACK DEVICES TO IMPROVE QUALITY DURING CPR TRAINING AND REAL CPR PERFORMANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. 14TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (INTED2020), 6751-6758.

Theses

PhD Students

  • Alexandra Hull

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Patient Care in Anaesthesia

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Dip (HE) ODP Foundations in Surgical Care
  • Dip (HE) ODP Care in Surgery
  • Dip (HE) ODP Clinical Skills
  • BSc (Hons) ODP Surgery 1
  • BSc (Hons) ODP Surgical Placement
  • BSc (Hons) ODP Surgery 2
  • BSc (Hons) ODP Surgery 3
  • BSc (Hons) ODP Anaesthesia 2
  • Surgery 3
  • Team working for service improvement
  • Research for professional practice

Grants

  • Wave 1 – degree apprenticeships funding (Office for Students, 01 Feb 2024). Awarded

External Responsibilities

  • Health and Care Professions Council, HCPC Fitness to Practise Panel Member (2024-)
  • Association for Perioperative Practice, Consultant (2022-)
  • Portland Clinical, ODP (2022-)
  • British Pregnancy Advisory Services Bournemouth, Operating Department Practitioner (2021-2024)
  • BPAS, ODP (2021-2024)
  • University Hospitals Dorset, Operating Department Practitioner (2015-2022)

Internal Responsibilities

  • Programme Lead, BSc Operating Department Practice
  • HEA fellowship mentor; reviewer; panel member, HEA Fellowship
  • Academic lead for PIER engagement, PIER group
  • Admissions Lead for ODP programme, BU Admissions
  • Unit lead, Unit lead for PG Patient Care in Anaesthesia

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • NIHR Open Research, 05 Oct 2023
  • Signa Vitae, 02 Nov 2020

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Bournemouth University Open Days
  • Cafe Scientifique
  • Insight Day
  • Restart a Heart Day

Memberships

  • Association for Perioperative Practice, Member,
  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow,
  • The Health and Care Professions Council, Member,